Managing Director and Head of Harcourts Coastal
Dane Atherton
A true leader in every way, who continues to help to create many other leaders in the industry. “He runs a great business where people come first.”
Elite Agent lists
Industry Influencers 2017
The real estate industry in Australia is full of colourful, interesting and hard-working personalities that continually shape our industry for the better. Elite Agent would like to acknowledge the contributions of these 50 influential leaders who inspire action, change the game, motivate others, break new ground and positively move the industry forward.
Leaders Inspiring Action
Managing Director, Cunninghams, current president REINSW
John Cunningham
One of the great pillars of the industry for many years, and likely many more to come. “Friendly, personable and passionate about everything and everyone he touches.”
Managing Director and Founder – Harris Real Estate
Phil Harris
Phil Harris leads with action. A superb craftsman of real estate practice, Phil has emerged as an industry leader with an equipoise and wisdom that is normally the domain of a much older person.
On Elite Agent
CEO, Wiseberry
Thomas Le Hoang
Thomas is described as a big-picture thinker and ahead of the curve as far as leadership goes. For a long time, he has been a private man, building a franchise. But that may be about to change with him about to feature on Foxtel’s Industry Leaders. Watch this space.
Executive Director, McGrath Estate Agents
John McGrath
John McGrath was the original ‘game changer’ in real estate creating a business based on integrity and transparency and world class service delivery. Today, he remains at the top of the list of sought after trainers and coaches for his deep knowledge and passion for the industry.
Managing Director Mortons
Ewan Morton
In the industry for many years, Ewan is another who continues to win the hearts and minds of others. “Ewan Morton is one of those leaders who tells it how it is but at the same time has a keen mind and is always looking for ways of doing things better and more efficiently.”
On Elite Agent
Director of Ouwens Casserly Real Estate and Current president of REISA
Alex Ouwens
One half of a $10 million turnover business and the youngest president of REISA, Ouwens says of his role, “ensuring the realestate profession is looked after as best as possible is something that I feel is critical.”
On Elite Agent
co-CEOs of Toop&Toop Real Estate
Susannah and Genevieve Toop
Known for innovation in projects across technology, finance and marketing dimensions in their successful SA business, the duo are also leaders in the wellness movement offering staff access to a 24 hour gym and a nourishing pantry to boost both productivity and positivity.
Third-generation leader of the Ray White Group and Joint Chairman
Brian White
After being told in 1972 at age 31 by his father, “It’s all yours to run. Be a good leader”, Brian White continues to live up to that legacy successfully at the helm of Australia’s biggest residential real estate group with over 1000 offices in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and Atlanta in the US.
Director, BresicWhitney
Shannan Whitney
Sydney group BresicWhitney lead the way in pretty much everything, from marketing to PM, auctions and more. “Shannan is the outside the box thinker who is always a few steps ahead of everyone else.”
Game Changers and Rule-Breakers
Founder and CEO of Real+
Fiona Blayney
There is no one in the industry that enjoys “breaking stuff” and then putting it back together better than Fiona Blayney of Real+. “Fiona has been around the industry for a long time, but that doesn’t stop her reinventing her own business and also helping others reinvent theirs.”
Marketing Director, Domain
Melina Cruickshank
“A rallying cry for the enfranchised”. If you haven’t seen Avalon Now you haven’t lived. Content marketing at its finest and most hilarious.
CEO, The Agency
Matt Lahood
Matt is that phenomenal mix of veteran and enthusiasm. Having experienced sales and organisational leadership through varied markets, Matt has stepped up as CEO of The Agency with nothing short of a revolution in mind for how property will be transacted in the future.
Chief of Growth, Ray White
Mark McLeod
A true industry thought leader that is also not afraid to tell it the way it is. “It’s only when we understand and acknowledge where the pain points for our customers are that we will have any opportunity to meet disrupters head on.”
CEO, Console
Tim Molloy
New to the industry, Tim was handed the task of moving to the cloud in double quick time. “It’s time for property managers to stop being happily dissatisfied; we want to make them happy,” says Tim.
On Elite Agent
Managing Director, Stone Real Estate
Peter Mumford
Peter Mumford opened the first McGrath franchise on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and is continuing to blaze a trail, starting his own franchise group, Stone Real Estate.
Director of Marshall White, Bayside
Kate Strickland
Kate is a champion of doing things her way, working in “sprints” of 12 weeks and then taking plenty of time off to maintain work life balance; at the same time mentoring and encouraging young agents to be the best they can be.
On Elite Agent
Broker/Owner RE/MAX Cairns
Tony Williamson
Tony Williamson is a principal that is not afraid to call a spade a spade. Is there a doctor in the house? Yes there is. While he used to be an accountant by trade, he has made a very successful real estate career out of ‘listen, diagnose, prescribe”.
Director, @home Property Management
Michelle Williams
“If you’re looking for a quick fix for rent roll growth you won’t find it”, says Michelle. Instead of calling it ‘customer service’ we should call it ‘business growth’. “No amount of marketing or listing presentation skill will outweigh word of mouth around service, particularly with the various social media platforms available today.”
Growth and Transformation Director, Lawlab
Lee Bailie
With complex paperwork still being one of the major pain points around property transactions, Lee Bailie is looking to change all that with Lawlab via Rundl; enabling a full digital journey for vendors and purchasers that simplifies and speeds up the process.
Follow the Leader
Director, Benson Auctions
Stuart Benson
Recently leaving Domain to focus on his auction business, Stu is also a regular guest on the Channel 7 sunrise show. While his calendar looks like it must be pretty full, he still manages to captures the interest of the crowds on social media with his no-nonsense, quick witted posts that always seem to gain serious engagement.
On Elite Agent
Sales consultant at First National Altitude
Daniel Irwin aka “Agent Dan”
If you haven’t seen Agent Dan’s Facebook video montages, you have been missing out on a unique and hilarious mirror of the real estate industry. Dan’s take on buyers, open homes, competitors in the videos and shows all real estate agents that if you aren’t having fun, you aren’t doing it right.
Sales Consultant, Ray White Double Bay
Gavin Rubinstein
Top agent in Double Bay and the undisputed king of Instagram, Gavin continues to show what it means to lead the pack when it comes to excelling in the digital interview.
On Elite Agent
Head of Property Marketing, CoreLogic
Kylie Davis
At CoreLogic, Kylie is the “chief sense maker”responsible for cutting through the jargon of complicated data analysis, understanding the stories property data can tell and communicating them to the business and the industry. In the last two years she has tirelessly worked to create thought leadership material on vendor perceptions, buyer perceptions, ‘Big Data’, AffordableHousing and Industry Leadership.
Director of Mitchell PT and curator of the National Property Management Community
Hayley Mitchell
The PM community on Facebook chiefly curated by Hayley Mitchell has grown to almost 7,000 members to be a place of learning, growing, and sharing and a safe place for PMs when it’s been a rough day.
On Elite Agent
Coach, Trainer, Auctioneer, Speaker
Tom Panos
On Sunday nights, Tom Panos regularly gets more views than 60 minutes and there’s a reason: his common sense, no-nonsense authenticity coupled with a deep knowledge the industry and human behaviour continue to help agents develop stronger mindsets and smash their goals.
Coach, Trainer, Speaker
Josh Phegan
Speaking at more than 208 events last year across the US, UK, New Zealand and Australia, Josh is one of the truly global “goto” trainers in Australia.
On Elite Agent
Coach, Trainer, Speaker
Glenn Twiddle
Different strokes for different folks and there is no denying that Twiddle has a large and faithful tribe who swear by his training. While he looks tough and hangs out with Arnold Schwarzenegger, rumour has it he is actually a big softie.
Partner at Urban Property Agents
Ben Wakely
Ben Wakely is an agent in Brisbane (Bardon) who is doing excellent work with social media as a tool to educate his market. His weekly ‘Facebook Lives’ are very popular among both agents and consumers.
Owner – Black Diamondz Group
Monika Tu
Monika was recently featured on China Central Television as an influential person in front of an audience of 1.3 billion, talking about her home and business in Australia.
On Elite Agent
Smart Is the New Cool
Director of Sales, realestate.com.au, speaker, digital thought leader
Steve Carroll
When we are talking about the future of real estate, and how consumer behaviour is changing, we want to be talking to Steve.
CEO, Agentbox
Eddie Cetin
A software CEO that sees the value in integrating with the outside world from a single pane of glass… why do things in multiple places, when it can be done from the one app?
Chief Economist, REA Group
Nerida Conisbee
One of Australia’s leading property experts, Nerida is always looking at the trends and data to provide up to date content for SkyNews plus a range of media outlets (including Elite Agent).
Managing Director, Richardson and Wrench
Andrew Cocks
Provides thoughtful, practical, useful commentary on political and economic factors impacting the industry.
Chief Inventor, REA Group
Nigel Dalton
As chief inventor at realestate.com.au, the world always wants to know what’s cooking in Nigel’s kitchen. Usually one of three things consumers like: Time, Trust and Transparency.
CTO International CoreLogic
Greg Dickason
Innovation and thought leader, Greg invented and managed the nationally used media maximiser product which correlates advertising spend to selling success for real estate agents. Recently he’s been involved in another groundbreaking bot project with Kylie Davis, to be released soon.
On Elite Agent
Head of Research, CoreLogic Australia
Tim Lawless
Tim’s expertise across property markets has positioned him as one of the country’s most experienced and popular property market analysts and commentators.
On Elite Agent
CEO Rockend
Alister Maple-Brown
Alister is a forward-looking CEO, having taken the reigns of an organisation with many years of history in the industry. Not content with leaving good enough alone, Alister’s team helps businesses grow and evolve with a constant eye on the future and technology trends.
Founder, Ireviloution
Jo-Anne Oliveri
Always looking for the next game-changer and how the bar can be raised in property management, Jo is regularly called upon to consult and comment both here and overseas.
Director, Apmasphere
Ben White
Ben, through Apmasphere, has been assisting to change the property management industry for the past 10 years. With the introduction of Halo, Ben continues to be at the forefront of the PM industry.
Champions of Service
Event Managers, TRET
Nichola Byrne and Isabella Lucas
If you’ve attended AREC, ARPM or an in house McGrath event in the last couple of years, then you will have experienced the spectacular work of these two ladies who pretty much do the work of two people each, always with big smiles, of course.
Managing Director, Cooley Auctions
Damien Cooley
Known for being one of Australia’s top auctioneers, Cooley is also a champion of the homeless; last August, the inaugural Real Estate Sleep Out raised almost $135,000 for Youth Off The Streets.
CEO Coronis
Andrew Coronis
Andrew Coronis has grown his father’s one office into a wholly-owned, end to end property group, while doing much good in the local community, supporting many charities including the Princess Alexandra Foundation, Leukaemia Foundation, Diabetes Queensland, Tour De Office, and more.
Director, RT Edgar Boroondara
Glen Coutinho
If the industry could define a “good guy” it has to be Glen Coutinho. Clearly a devoted husband and father of five, Glen’s ability to give of himself and his joy in seeing joy in other’s make him the ultimate service champion.
On Elite Agent
Associate Director, Caporn Young
Stefanie Dobro
WAs ‘Trusted Advisor’ in real estate, Stefanie Dobro has a full trophy cabinet and looked up to by many. Often known to just call someone out of the blue to say “great job”, Stefanie sets the ultimate positive example for women (and men) throughout the industry.
On Elite Agent
Coach, Trainer, Speaker
Claudio Encina
Perhaps one of the ‘quieter’ coaches, Encina probably has the biggest heart of them all which is one of the things that sets him apart. If anyone needs help to Transform their career we know who to call.
Principal, First National Real Estate Byron Bay
Chris Hanley OAM
Chris Hanley is a leader of leaders and has won the respect and affection of so many within the industry due to his generosity and central tenant that ‘good works’.
On Elite Agent
Founder, Real Estate Excellence
Stacey Holt
Stacey Holt is a relentless guardian of property management best practice and compliance services. Serving as a front line property manager and office manager for over a decade, Stacey has walked the walk and her message resonates with many property managers who are on that line.
Coach, TMJ Coaching
Tanja M Jones
For Tanja it’s always about the people and being of service. While she is still fairly new to the industry she made a big splash as a head coach in Transform this year, gaining a myriad of new followers of her ‘Soul FM’ radio.
Mindset Coach and Trainer
Jet Xavier
Jet Xavier is one of Australia’s leading mindset and elite performance coaches who, in 2017 through his wellness survey is causing a shift towards a more balanced perspective of success.